Is it legal in Pennsylvania to offer a student rate, but exclude older students?
Apr.06, 2010 in
Student Discounts
Many products and services offer student rates, but most of them have added age restrictions to their student discount offers. As an older student, this ticks me off. Why is this allowed?
April 6th, 2010 at 10:28 pm
The same reason they have discounted drinks for ladies, discounts for senior citizens, businesses can set whatever rules they want as long as they’re not discriminating in a very deep sense of the word.
You can’t discriminate using race, age or gender isn’t a problem thus all the discounts for woman and the elderly.
If they didn’t have a set cap on what determines the criteria for a student, you would have an argument. They specifically spell out what they label a student, thus it can’t be argued.
There is no discrimination here, at all. The intent of student discounts is to help younger generations who don’t have a vast employment history, limited funds ect. It’s not to help a 35+ yr old student who’s had plenty of real world experiences ect.
April 6th, 2010 at 11:14 pm
Most countries have an “age discrimination policy” especially in europe. I’d would imagine there would be similar laws in the states too. Most people ignore these laws as they are not well known but mention it to anyone who says your too old for a discount, they may just be trying to “get away with it”. Or Google “age discrimination act”
April 6th, 2010 at 11:19 pm
Oh yeah, I live in Pa and was an older student too and didnt know that. I would threaten to file discrimination against them. You see, many people just accept unreasonable policies, like this one. And it isnt until its actually challenged that it is changed. I would certainly challenge it or threaten to. There are many older college students now. Contact the Pa Attorney General, consumer division. They are good people. I would certainly think it is age discrimination. Good luck.